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golfishhunt. Love the spoon.. You would not like it here.. 50f is a heat wave.. that is shorts and T shirt weather.. It's 20F right now.. In some of the "How to" videos I put in a blurb shot of the thermometer I have handing up. The coldest I have ever forged in the trailer it was about 15F starting.. Got up to about 20F on the warmest hardest work.. the hotest was 115F with all the doors open.. The thermometer sits at the farthest part of the trailer just over the tool rack.. I can just look up to see the temperature. From the outside no one can see the temperature so during the summer they are outside and will say.. You must be dieing in there it's like 90f out.. I then read the temps and it's about 4 degrees cooler in the trailer. Of course I will pick ridiculous projects at the hottest time of the year.. As a side note.. some coil springs cracks on the center and if they are used springs can have stress cracks at both ends from all the flexing. You can see them when the spring is heated up.

We have numbers or buildings with steel roofs. I love the sound of a hard rain, sleet and such hitting it. Another little joy is when sleet hits it when its a slow sleet shower.. you get the hit of the sleet, then the hearing of it sliding down the steel.. Neat sound.

Some day we might just have that chance.. I was told there are some changes coming and its going to be a glorious adventure.

Billy, I have had many journeys in search of myself.. Most if not all involved some sort of quick knowledge gain.. I am dyslexic and when I first started reading it proved interesting, but I read mainly fantasy books.. 5, 6, 7 years old.. I then went to OSV at 8 years old and discovered Blacksmithing.. That was the last time I read anything that was not some sort of instruction manual.. I spent the next 4 or 5 years reading and memorizing every facet I could from Practical Blacksmithing and all the other books I had purchased, or was given on blacksmithing.. Literally ever chance I got I would read them and practice drawing out blacksmithing items, hammers, tongs, gates, tools. And get forge practice in. So basiclly I just started reading books on how to do things, from cars to designing transmissions because SAAB's had weak transmissions, to welding and fabrication, to tig welding, to intake and exhaust gas velocity and how the waves played into designs . Anyhow, I'm OCD and anything that I found interesting I would study up on.. Get a new TV or washing machine or anything mechanical and the instruction manual is the first thing I read. For every vehicle I own, I go and buy a factory workshop manual and read it cover to cover, and if I can I will also buy a parts book and read that cover to cover too. I was a wannabe Rally driver so went there, motorcycles, 2 stroke engine development and tuning, Exhaust system designs for max VE, I've talked with some really cool people in the Turbo charged upper crust.. Car designs because I wanted to build my own car. I own and 2001 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T.. I own the factory work shop manuals, a Chiltons, A Bentley and 1 other 1.. All for the same car.. Yup read them all looking for information that might be different on how to do the same thing like change a wheel bearing. The list really is endless.. This all happened as a result of that first encounter with blacksmithing.. Originally I had no concept of square hole, or round holes and was considered slow when I was very young. NO concept of engineering anything.. I was happy with Barbies, stuff animals, etc. I was not what I would consider a bright child in conversation as my mind works quickly but my words are slow. So had a tendency to be a loner or involved in activities where I didn't have to talk.. LOL.. So, basically action oriented.. I used to walk around singing and skipping.. Used to drive everyone crazy. My heros were Tazan and Jane.. I was taught from a very early age, that if I wanted something I would have to work for it.. This made me into a saver.. Find a good deal, grab it because 30 years from now you might need it. I learned a bunch of coping mechanisms. So, yes many, many, many things I have done.. Usually it seems in about a 5 year to 7 year stretch. The only things that have been consistent over 50 years is blacksmthing (wanting to be better) and martial arts, and spiritual type things. Meditation and prayer.

Best way is to put a bore scope in the O2 sensor and take a look inside. I have had 3 cars come in with running problems and O2 fault related codes and 2 were plugged and one had a melted core. Easy to see with the bore scrope.. I bought one from HF on sale and it works perfectly for this type of thing. When was the last time you changed the fuel filter? Sorry if you have answered this, but I skipped most the posts about cars/trucks .

Nice work Mark, Love seeing your finely finished forgings. In the old days the belief was that a hammer should fall naturally with the most used face so the weighting was towards the most used face. This was believed to lessen stress and such as it was in theory the natural fall around the handle which was/is the pivot. I own many hammers that are face heavy.. There was a study done sometime back which I wish I would have kept the article though I don't know if its true or not but they found a balanced hammer is better for the body as the hammer has less of a tendency to want to twist after hitting.. A slow motion video of a hammer strike would be a great way to see exactly what is being done.. I have a slow motion camera so it might be worth it..

Dang you guys made fantastic time.. I'm still stuck at the frame aspect of the build.. I'm so happy for you.. When does the power hammer arrive?

Thats what happens when its time to share it..

This might be one of those times, where wrong is right.. or is it right is wrong..

Wow, look at you go.. That is fantastic.. Nice work.

golfishunt, you must have been to good.. If you want coal, you gotta be on the naughty list.

Lot of times with newer smiths they have fallen into the newer smiths mistake paradigm. short stroke the hammer, (no full swing). Stand to far away from the hot metal. all choked up in the body or hammer or both. closed chest.. death grip. stop breathing, only breathing off the top of the lungs. Etc, etc.. Lots of times this is the aspect that many experienced and helpful smiths , want to correct right off.. And for good reason.. With how much information that is out there. Forums, videos, schools, friends etc. etc. Its easier for a lot of people to progress rather quickly... That is a great thing and is fun to see. What usually bothers me the most, is when bad information gets passed along as gospel and then because of a mistake in understanding there is no chance of the person changing their mind, and you will hear them say.. " Well so and so does it that way" and the information is only a half truth.. This usually happens because of a limited newer understanding and they really can't see past that "new" trick. Keep up the good work.

I think the anvil might be a little low for Mark as he is bending over some.. chuckle, chuckle.. He looks a lot more like what.. The old method. Here is a really good close up of hammer swing.. See so it does change based on many factors.. Finding footage of Mark in full frame is tough.

CGL.. Not at all.. Its just information. What one likes or doesn't like should not matter to anyone else, only the person who is doing it. You don't even have to validate or back up what you do, unless you want to.. Its really no one elses business and no reason to justify the skill or behavior.. Its one of the reasons I try to stay away from doing comparisons between" This is what I do vs this is what you do".. In a reply to a thread.. I really just try to add to the thread a different skill set.. Vs my way is better.. Again I try to add to it.. Every method can be valid.. "EVERY METHOD CAN BE VALID".. With this said. This thread might help others to understand the methods of hammer control, a hammer swing, why the hammer is used the way it is and why there are so many variations for a given method.. this is just another example of hammering and both Hofi and Habermann came out about the same time frame in their information. And if one looks at the hammers are different but kinda the same.. They are both balanced designs (same weight end to end) Vs heavier face vs peen. What ever you prefer is perfect for you.. With Experience comes understanding and being able to share that experience in a way that can be shared and understood by others is part of the teaching process, of which ideally a teacher is a student at that very same moment. Again, this is just information. there is no "Wrong or Right" and one should not be judged as such.. What will happen is over a time frame the hope is they were perfect their skill set and if at some point they find a different way it is usually based on because it works best for them. I've been to demo's where Mark A. has been the lecturer and I can not stand straight up and forge.. LOL.. this standing straight up is seen in a fairly small circle and was my point as to Old, new and Hofi. Each video that has been posted.. Josh, Habermann, Hofi, Mark A. Each person has a little different take.. Vs 90% of the Farriers or old time blacksmiths out there.. It does not mean, one way is better or not.. It simply shows there is different information... The journey of self discovery is open to everyone. Most long time smiths have opinions on ever facet of smithing based on what has worked for them.. Take it all as a grain of salt..

Here is another smith who influenced a lot of people.. Habermann:

I can't speak for Hofi, but only through my own understanding have some insight.. His hammer was designed to be his Hammer and use his method of use. All of the design elements like face size, face distance to handle, peen width, weight, etc, etc all make up the model.. People used to go and take classes on just making the hammer correctly.. They do sell his hammer in Cast or forged now.. And there are knock offs which do not follow his model. The limit for me with the Hofi hammer is how I work at the anvil.. I have a tendency to work over the anvil face directly for everything with very little edge use.. So because of the short handle to face distance and using the hammer at angle while working I used to smash my pinky into the anvil face.. this is because of my grip, and no fault of the Hofi hammer.. Anyhow, there was a series of videos on why the Czech hammer and the Hofi hammer were different.. I imagine the videos are out there somewhere.. One aspect which I find to be a problem with any instruction.. Is everyone wants to put their own spin on it.. This can change the results and the method is then dismissed as invalid. it really becomes important to understand why things are being done the way they are.. Both physically and mentally.

As for the Hofi method.. I find it more comfortable with a higher anvil height.. It is important to understand that "the HOFI" hammer has a lot to do with how it feels.. A traditional hammer used as a Hofi method is not nearly the same.

So, I wanted to clarify on (Old, new, hofi) These labels are not age related of a person.. It is what seems to be for different smiths.. IE the consistency for long term smiths, then any newer philosophy.. So, check this guy out.. Cutlers hammers are usually heavier than regular forging hammers for a given size is stock.. I bet his hammer is a 6lb. Very short handle with heavy head.. https://youtu.be/zpeyhC-UIFg

any of the low carbon varieties forge like butter.. 300 series and the low 400 series. 409/410. I dislike stainless for forging because of the scale aspect.. It all needs to be removed and then a skim layer removed as well and then polished for rust resistance. Stainless left in scale has micro cracks in the scale itself and will rust in these micro cracks. 300 (308, 316) can be forged, then stripped of scale then cold worked to add hardness to both edges and tines. 409/410 forges about the same but doesn't like cold working as much. It will cold work harden a little faster..

As an addition to rustyanchors post, Nearly all metal companies that have a website will have what is known as a "Stock list". The stock list is what sizes they care in house and this reference will usually list the lbs per foot.. The metal supplier I use had these great 1/3 fold smaller sized stock list that was laminated. I made off with 3 of them. Sadly they don't offer them anymore.

Thomas.. I run a sliding scale on normal. I'm never sure I'm in the right place.. Seems to be more of a put there. Kinda thing.. You are there. therefore that is where you are..

CGL. Wow, that is excellent. I wasn't kidding about the Etsy page.. Networking today is a wonderful aspect of sales. While I am not open for sales per say. It can be a great way to fund your habit (hobby) until your sales are good enough to make bank and can take on work as time dictates. I know a guy who is a full time smith making hearts, key chains and bottle openers.

Yes, it is a very good thing.. Or it's not.. For some reason I'm supposed to be here, doing what I'm doing or else I wouldn't be. Guardian angles maybe. I've been in numerous scrapes and high falls. Partially paralyzed on my left side, back surgery, etc, etc.. still keep trucking.. LOL.. And yes, a few of those falls were on my head.. One from 30ft right on a rock.. LOL.. I'm perfectly normal though..

Was a diving instructor, certified gas blender, service tech, etc, etc. Was a distributor for halcyon diving equipment. I used to do cave diving, and deep wreck diving 200ft+. 2000ft back in a cave. That kind of stuff. Dive was 20min and deco was 2hrs. We ran our own deco based on Buelmann with modifications. Was involved with GUE and was in the instructor training program, when I took the hit. No dive computers, just tables on a pad carried in pocket. 10/80, 18/45, 36/10, 50/50 and 100% O2 at 20ft. Took a bad type 2 hit on a training dive. Turns out because of all the injuries to connective tissues I was prone to dcs. I've had some injuries over the last 50 years that would kill a horse. Somehow still ticking.. lol.

You caught me... I was having some sarcastic fun. I have no idea what it is based on what steel weighs per cubic inch. But as JHCC pointed out there are places to find in on the net.. chuckle, chuckle. I was on the road. Chuckle , chuckle.. Ideally one should have a weights and measures in a note book in the shop or in a wall chart. Its 6lbs per foot for heavy C. So for 1" it would be. 0.5lbs.. 6lb/12"=0.5 But going by the weight per foot which is on any steel sellers site can give you the cubic inch as well with simple math. Once you have the weight per foot you can easily figure out the cubic inch of material per weight for odd shapes or use the displacement method. The heaviest they stock here is 6lb per foot. I usta use math all the time in Scuba diving and for figuring out volumes for metal and such. but now I use math once every 3-6months unless it's simple addition/subtraction. It shows.. LOL..